Free Communications : P1 ; Barrier Function and Stratum Corneum Lipids in Non-Lesional Skin of Allergic Contact Dermatitis or Atopic Dermatitis Patients

Lesions of most inflammatory skin diseases, especially atopic dermatitis (AD), present an impaired barrier function and decreased stratum corneum (SC) lipids. We performed this study in order to elucidate that their non-lesional skin also presents subtle changes in the barrier function or the SC lipids. Each 25 patients with AD or allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) as well as 35 healthy control persons were enrolled. For barrier function, basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and SC hydration were measured on forehead, inner forearm and calf, and the barrier recovery rate was calculated on the inner forearm. For SC lipid analysis, tapes stripped from the inner forearm were analyzed by HPTLC for total lipids and LC-MS/MS for ceramides. Basal TEWL on non-lesional skin of AD or ACD patients showed no difference. SC hydration decreased significantly in AD patients but not in ACD. Barrier recovery of AD or ACD patients was delayed than healthy control. Non-lesional skin of ACD patients as well as AD showed a decrease of total ceramides content as well as each type of ceramides. Collectively, the non-lesional skin of AD or ACD patients presented a subtle change in barrier function and a decrease of SC ceramides. Therefore, we could recommend a moisturizer containing ceramides and humectants for AD patients and a moisturizer containing ceramides for ACD patients in a concept of tailor-made moisturizer.